Thought maybe it's time for me to share a little bit about what has been going on in the last few months withmy own situation and my personal battle with lymphedema.

Earlier this year, I started gaining fluid in the abdomen, chest and even my arms started ballooning on me.

It got to the point where I was almost incapacitated...very much unable to do even simple things like dress and put on my shoes without a massive and painful effort.

By the time I went to the NLN convention in late October/early November I was able to barely walk with a cane. God bles Joan White and Cheri Hoskins as they got me a wheelchair and wheled me around everywhere so I could get to and participate in the seminars and groups.

Another therapist Carmelita Rifkin was beyond wonderful and would wrap my legs morning and night. I would have never made it for a moment without these three "lymph angels."

The week after the convention was the turning point. It finally got to the point where I could not even breathe without standing up. Sleep was impossible as was just sitting in a chair.

I went to the ER at Gwinnett Medical on November12th, 2006 and was immediately admitted into the hospital. I stay there until December 8th. The hospital crew was great and the doctors were so helpful. It kinda resored a little bit of faith in medical doctors to see these guys try so hard to help.

It was an extreme crises situation. While I was there, they removed some 60 lbs of fluid right off my ab/chest area. From my right lung they drained almost 3 liters of chylous fluid. The procedure is called a Thoracentesis.

I was transported by ambulance yo Healthsouth Rehab hospital where Dr. Paula Stewart maintains her pracice for lymphedema patients. I was there for a couple weeks.

Finally, I returned home on December 22nd...thinking all was going to quiet down.

Not.. ..on Decembr 27, I experienced a pnueothorax and was readmitted to Gwinnett for another week. That passed and I returned to work. While there they again drained some 2 liters of fluid from my right lung.

The doctors talked about a procedure called a pleurodesis wherein the fluid is removed from the pleural cavity and it is sealed off to prevent further fluid accumlation. In only three weeks another 2 1/2 liters have accumulated in the right lung and we still had 1 1/2liters in the left one.

That meant another week in the hospital. The operation went well and I resumed work the following week.

In the midst of all this, they also found my blood protein level had dropped to a castastrophic level. So I have had to be on this super protein diet.

We have not idea what actually started all this "lymphatic failure" but at least now the fluid is removed and we are doing whatever possible to prevenet it from occuring again.

All in all, I spent about 50 days in the hospital....LOL....but got out for good behavior on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I am doing much better now...but pacing myself, watching what I do an doing all I can to help the situation.

The very big plus was that I got to conduct little seminar classes for the student nurses on lymhpedema, what it is, how to recognize it and how it is treated. And I got to share an encylopedia of information with the doctors, most of which of course knw nothing about lymphedema. I give them much credit as they all showed a keen interest to learn and to gain as much knowledge as they could.

Sorry to hear about all you've gone through. You've had quite a time of it, but being Pat, sounds like you made the best of it, kept the positive spin on the situation, and even did some educating in the process. Only you! Way to go! You're quite an inspiration.

I've enjoyed reading your new posts this evening. Thank you for the continuing wealth of information that you share.

I too want to welcome you back Pat. I was wondering what had happened since you hadn't been posting for awhile. I'm so sorry for all that you have been through. Glad that you are feeling a liitle better now and hope that the fluid stays out of your lungs. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep fighting! You have a wonderful attitude. Loved the post on anger - how true! Susan

Now I know what's behind the statement you made in reply to my post regarding my first hospital visit. You said you had "lots and lots of feelings" about recent events in your life, and hadn't yet resolved them.

Wow....you certainly have been through a lot lately. But from reading your numerous posts, if anyone can handle it, you can.

You have truly been an inspiration to me, and I know to everyone else. Your knowledge of LE is impressive, and we so appreciate the fact that you pass all of that on to us, and those in the medical community.

I'm praying that God give you the strength to get through all this, and hope you are on the road to a speedy recovery.

Hi Pat,
I have not been logging on as much as I should, and just read about your horrid experience last November-December. I would really like it if the reason for that sudden inflation of fluid could be found. There is so much research to be done...on US....isn't there? I'm so happy that you had people to help you and medical staff who took an interest. Wishing you much better health,
Marigold